When it comes to scoring, this could be worst Canucks team in franchise history

Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun03.08.2014

Barring a relative barrage of goals in their remaining 17 games - and hands up everyone expecting that - the Vancouver Canucks are headed for their most futile offensive season in team history. Vancouver Canucks celebrate Tom Sestito’s second period goal.Mark van Manen
/ PNG

Barring a relative barrage of goals in their remaining 17 games - and hands up everyone expecting that - the Vancouver Canucks are headed for their most futile offensive season in team history. Vancouver Canucks #5 Jason Garrison, #33 Henrik Sedin and goalie Eddie Lack celebrate their win over the St Louis Blues.Gerry Kahrmann
/ PNG

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Barring a relative barrage of goals in their remaining 17 games - and hands up everyone expecting that - the Vancouver Canucks are headed for their most futile offensive season in team history.

Entering Saturday night’s home game against the Calgary Flames, the Canucks have scored 148 goals this season (not counting their three shootout-winning tallies). The fewest number of goals ever scored by a Canucks team in a full season (not counting lockout-shortened campaigns) were the 192 registered by the 1998-99 Canucks.

To surpass that number, the Canucks need 45 goals in their final 17 games, or an average of 2.64 per game. The Canucks are currently 28th overall in league averaging 2.28 goals per game.

However, that number is in a free-fall as the Canucks have only managed to score nine goals in their last nine games.

The Canucks’ decline in scoring has been precipitous. Back in 2010-11, when they went to Game 7 the Stanley Cup final, Vancouver led the NHL in scoring. As recently as two seasons ago, the Canucks were fifth.

A struggling power play has played a big role in Vancouver’s scoring woes. Back in 2010-11, the Canucks led the league with 72 power-play goals. So far this season, they have 29.

Some of their forwards are experiencing epic droughts. Winger Alex Burrows, who is making $6 million this season, has not scored a goal in the 33 games he has played.

Captain Henrik Sedin has not scored a goal in his last 22 games and is without a point in his last 11 games.

Injured winger Daniel Sedin also has not scored in his last 22 games and has one point in his last 17 games.

The Canucks do not have a player inside the top 75 in NHL scoring.

Things are so bad that this could be the first full season the Canucks do not have at least two 20-goal scorers.

Whether that remains the case will likely depend on winger Chris Higgins.

Higgins has 16 goals this season and needs four more in the final 17 games to join Ryan Kesler as a 20-goal scorer. Kesler leads the Canucks with 21 goals this season.

The Canucks have never played a full season without at least one 25-goal scorer.

STREAK STANDS: The Canucks said Friday their home sellout streak is intact and currently stands at 464 games. It figures to be challenged down the stretch, particularly in the next two games against a pair of fellow struggling teams - Calgary on Saturday night and the New York Islanders on Monday night.

NOTHING SERIOUS: Canucks prospect Bo Horvat left Thursday night’s game with the OHL’s London Knights after suffering a leg injury.

Knights assistant coach Dylan Hunter told the London Free Press that the injury is not serious, describing it as “just a bruise.”

Horvat has 70 points in 51 games this season and is third in scoring with Knights. He was selected ninth overall by the Canucks in last summer’s NHL draft.

PRAY FOR EDDIE: Recently departed goalie Roberto Luongo apparently watched Thursday night’s ugly 6-1 loss to Dallas and sent out some tweets directed at the Canucks and their fans. The first was simply a hashtag saying #PrayForEddie, an obvious reference to goalie Eddie Lack, who was pulled after two periods. That was followed by another tweet saying “If I was still the back up I coulda came in and mopped this game up nicely....”

Luongo’s Strombone1 Twitter account now has more than 300,000 followers.

Meanwhile, the large promotional ad of Luongo hanging on the outside of Rogers Arena was removed on Friday.

ICE CHIPS: The Boston Globe reported Friday that that the Bruins were talking to the Canucks about a deal that would have sent defenceman Alex Edler to Boston on trade deadline day. . .Recently signed Canuck prospect Dane Fox continues to lead the OHL with 59 goals in 62 games with the Erie Otters.

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When it comes to scoring, this could be worst Canucks team in franchise history

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